The small army tore through the sky, flying at top speed toward the outskirts of the Wind Empire. They knew they could not waste time, yet rushing blindly would ruin everything. They had to wait until the larger army moved in the opposite direction. If they ended up meeting it head-on, even Max was not confident they would walk away unharmed today.

During his study of the borders, he had found a small city route that passed through the Elven lands and into the Wind Empire. It was a detour he had chosen to risk in order to enter unseen. Six days later, they arrived at the edge of the Elven lands.

There, a forest of towering trees stretched as far as the eye could see. Since he had entered through the path connecting the regions in the middle, there were no guards here, as it was considered a buffer zone where certain merchants could pass freely along old trade routes.

Soon after, they slipped past the forest without being noticed. Every heart beat wildly with tension. Even the slightest exposure could ruin Max’s entire strategy, but today, luck seemed to stand on their side.

The small army arrived at a stretch of open grasslands, where the wind felt stronger than usual. The scent of fresh grass and wildflowers drifted through the air, easing their nerves for a brief, dangerous moment. In the far distance, they could see a small town. Around it, farmers worked the fields. Max raised his arm, signaling the troops to remain silent.

"This has to be quick. I want this town captured in no more than one minute."

His words hit the warriors like a hammer. One minute to take a city was something no one dared imagine. They all understood that most of the Wind Empire’s warriors had already been summoned to join the march, but some defenders still had to remain behind.

"My king, how are we supposed to do that?" A middle-aged man from the Fire Clan stepped forward. He was an old commander who had lived for nearly a thousand years, yet even he had never heard a request this outrageous.

"Don’t worry about it. I’ll create an opportunity for all of you." Max said it with a smile slowly rising on his face.

Every warrior from the Fire side watched as Max extended his arms toward the city. They did not understand what he was about to do, while the Ice Clan warriors smiled with quiet understanding, their wings already tensed to launch at any moment.

Before their eyes, the grass and crops off to the right began to wither. The strange phenomenon immediately drew the attention of the Wind Clan townsfolk. They rushed toward it, calling out for others to come witness the impossible.

"Now!"

Max’s hand came down as the signal to charge. The troops did not waste a second. They rushed out in silence toward the city. Max followed after them, the ancestral Ice Beast carrying him and Rosalia, while Agnia rode the Fire ancestral beast.

The people of the Wind Empire did not even understand where the invaders had come from. By the time they noticed the army sweeping in from the south, it was already too late.

Golden fire and purple ice flame roared across the streets, striking the warriors guarding the town and knocking them down without killing them, while the others rushed toward the alarm bells, aiming to disable every last one before anything could go wrong.

They could not afford even a single bell to ring. If even one sounded, the bells of the surrounding towns would answer in seconds. Max only knew that because of Agnia’s teachings. While he hated her to the bone, he had to admit she was too important to kill right now.

One after another, people were captured and forced to their knees. Max watched as it all unfolded. He ordered his men to move north and seize anyone who dared flee. After the town was overtaken with a speed that would have left any general speechless, Max stripped the entire area of its mana.

"The emperor will have your head!" a young man roared from among the captives, his eyes spitting venom at Max.

Max only sneered at the threat.

He walked closer to the captives while his army watched in silence.

"You no longer serve your emperor. Now, you serve me."

He raised his hand, but for a second, it paused. Something inside him screamed that this was immoral, that he should not act like a tyrant. Yet the other side of him screamed even louder that he had no choice. This was the only way forward now, even if it went against his own heart.

His fingers closed around the young man’s throat, void energy tightening around him and forcing cries from the townspeople.

"Please spare him!" many cried, their eyes filled with tears.

Then a small child rushed forward. It was only a little girl.

"Let my daddy go..."

Max’s heart twisted at the sight, but this was something he needed. He controlled his energy with the utmost gentleness, using the void to push the girl back without harming her.

"I will kill your people one by one. Not even the children will be spared if you do not renounce your emperor and accept me as your king..." Max held the man by the throat while the rest trembled in terror, their eyes full of tears. No one dared speak against him, afraid his next move would kill one of them. Even the man in his grasp gave in, terrified that Max would kill his daughter if he refused.

The first city of the Wind Empire had fallen.

And yet, when everything seemed to be going well, a single young woman decided to play the hero.

She sprang up from the crowd and rushed for the nearest bell, her fingers reaching for it at a frightening speed. Every warrior’s heart dropped. They did not know who had failed, but someone in the army had left one of the bells intact.

Before anyone could react, the woman’s fingers were only inches from the rope...